Writing to know what I think.

Because you write

Do you write? Are you still waiting for that big break? For the stroke of luck that will elevate you from obscurity? It might happen yet, so don’t give up, but have you ever wondered that you might also be missing the point of what it is that you do?

It came as a great disappointment to me, when I discovered the hardest part about becoming a professional author was not pounding the keys with sufficient industry to finally finish that novel, but actually convincing anyone what you had written was worth reading and, more to the point, paying you enough for it to enable you to finally quit the day-job.

As the rejections come thick and fast, disillusionment can all too easily set in and you begin to wonder if there’s a secret key to the publishing world that’s granted only to a select few; you wonder if you need to be a famous person, or if you need to have an influential contact in the publishing world, someone to raise your work above the level of the so called slush pile.

I’m sure all of the above are true to some extent, but once you start feeling bitter about it you should take a step back and reassess what it is you want or think you’re getting from your writing. Cynicism is an insidious poison and the last thing you want is for it to start creeping in to your writing, because then you’re lost. Readers may smile at a cynic’s complaint, but none will want to remain friends with him for long. There is no insight in cynicism, and it soon becomes tiresome.

All right, it’s obvious that if you work in the publishing business, you’re off to a head start, because you understand it from the inside out. And if you’re a famous name, say a celebrity A lister you can rest assured that you can write anything and it will sell millions of copies. You can’t blame publishers for courting celebrities because publishing is about making money. Then again many writers of fiction have credentials as professional journalists – these people know the business too; they might rub shoulders with the publishing people in the big city, perhaps they went to university with them, get invited to their parties and book launches. But before we get carried away, we should remember it’s also true that complete unknowns also make it from time to time – just not many, at least in proportion to the number of sincere wannabes who pen their scripts and send them off in all innocence, hopeful of a glowing reception.

This is simply the nature of things; and we should remember that the lives of only a very few writers are lived in luxury and in the perpetually sunny glow of fame. More often it is a life of obscurity and a perpetual battle with the stormy seasons of one’s own self belief. Is it that my thoughts are not worthy of publication? the writer might ask himself. You have only to look at some of the tosh that’s been published to know this isn’t true. Is it that I didn’t have the proper education, that I didn’t do literature at university? That I didn’t go to university at all?

No.

Your view of the world and your ability to put pen to paper are the only qualifications you need to wear the badge of “Writer” – it is not as exclusive a club as “published author” seems to be. Can’t spell? Grammar poor – then do a basic language course at night-class, or simply read a lot; let the words of past masters filter into your being, so that your grasp of the written word becomes instinctive and you understand the correctness of a thing simply by the way it feels.You’ll still make mistakes. But the more you write, and the more you read, the less mistakes you’ll make.

You do not need a book in the top ten bestsellers list to call yourself a writer. A writer is simply a person who writes. And more importantly writers lives are shaped, moved, indeed measured by their work. The desire that a reader should share, care about, or even recognise your world view is simply a desire for reassurance that one’s self belief is not misplaced. But as many readers will find discord as harmony in what you write, so you cannot rely upon a readership to bolster your self belief; she is a fickle mistress, and hard to please for long. Self belief is your own business, your own occasionally dark shadow, or sunny spell, and it cannot be won from the opinions of others.

That you feel the need to commit your thoughts to paper is reason enough for believing in yourself. Indeed the fact of your existence alone is reason enough to write because there is nothing in nature that is wasted, or without purpose – though that purpose in its highest forms may remain for ever a mystery to you.

Your life, your thoughts, your feelings, these are expressions of infinite value, therefore of infinite value too are your writings, even if you are never paid for them.They are the shape and the measure of your life. The person most influenced, most healed and most inspired by them, is always going to be you.

Because you write.

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4 Responses

Beautiful post, Michael, and well-written! There are a few times in the Bible where it’s hinted that Jesus’ mother may have kept a journal of her son’s life. Okay, so maybe she didn’t write it, but I think she probably dictated it to someone. She notices him doing things, and then the gospel writer remarks that she “treasured these things in her heart.” I don’t see her locking it up and throwing away the key, though. I don’t think we’re meant to keep the treasure locked up either.

Hey, that was fast! I’ve only just posted it. Thanks walk2write – thoughtful comment. I think you’re right about the treasure. Once you cross the line and start to write the muse won’t let you lock it up. She gets cross if you try.